Foggy Dew Curtains

[Not For Hire]

I recently asked Rick and Donna about their curtains on Foggy Dew. They graciously answered and put up some additional photos of their cabin curtains in the Foggy Dew album, in the projects sub-album.

I like the idea that the curtains they are self stored at the top of the windows and don't appear to block much at all of the view when they are open. Also you can quickly release the entire curtain when you leave the boat. With this arrangement I would be much more likely to put them down and avoid sun damage, etc.

The trick seems to be mounting the teak strip above the window to hold the snap screws. I use that trick a lot in other areas of gluing pieces up and then screwing into the glued pieces (as do many Brats). So I think I will give this a try, but on my boat I will use plastic wood (Starboard) instead of the teak strips, this is more in keeping with my overall theme of laziness. I may make the curtains in more than one piece so I can one open to look out as well as the clever corner trick for ventilation.

Thanks for the tips.

[MOOSE]

Mark, I've done a fair amount of fabricating with Starboard and I don't think you're going to get it to stick satisfactorily without using the special glue made for the stuff. I've tried epoxy, 5200, and all manner of other stuff and nothing bonds to it.
Al

[mikeporterinmd]

There's some interesting info on starboard in the West Marine catalog. I didn't
know, for instance, that the material expands and contracts as much as it does.

Mike

[Not For Hire]

Hi Al,

(With all humilty because Al = craftsman, Mark = stumblebum).

I have mounted Starboard (or more often Azek plastic wood similar to Starboard) to the inside of the hull in several places. I mounted pieces to bolt hammock hooks, as a backpiece to bolt my heavy battery charger, to hold the boat hook and emergency paddle, and the battery switches and vsrs and probably something I forgot. Nothintg has fallen down yet and most of it has been through a winter, plenty of bumps, etc. I score the heck out of the back side, drill many small holes in the backside and slather it with 5200. Stuff is sticking so far. Maybe the Azek is just enough different chemically to make a difference? When I got my boat I bought a 4 x 8 x 1/2 sheet of Azek "plywood" as well as some 1in Azek "lumber." After that time I also got some Starboard but now that I am thinking about it perhaps all the glued up bits were Azek?

The piece above the windows may be tricky to brace in place while it dries that's for sure.

PS Have you had your last on Rainy yet? Next year I am going to boat longer into the fall.

Regards, and I hope the Moose is still afloat and not stored yet.

Mark

PS I read all about the difficulty of attaching Starboard and the special glue and heating it, etc. I was either too chicken, too cheap or too lazy to try those methods. I will send you some Azek to play with if you like. Give me a PM.

[MOOSE]

Yeah, Mark, perhaps the Azek is different than Starboard, or perhaps you have managed to make a strong "mechanical" bond with all of your drilling and scoring on the backside. Whatever, it certainly appears you know what you're doing and that this endeavor will also be successful.

As far as bracing the piece while the glue dries, don't forget the handyman's secret weapon! LOL

As it turns out, the MOOSE is indeed in storage and has been for about three weeks. Although the carbs have not been drained yet, nor the trailer put up on blocks, pending a respite in the below normal temperatures and generally black weather we've been seeing during that time. We went from nearly summer to nearly winter long about mid-October. I'd really like to get out again, even for just a day, as I've got muskie fever really bad now! It was certainly our intent to boat longer this fall also, but with the cold and low lake levels, our shallow channel out to the main lake has frozen four times already, last night probably for good. But we had a great summer and I'm very much looking forward to next year.

Regards,
Al

....and remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[Minnow]

I also used azek for my curtain tracks. Check out my album under "interior details".
The cabinetmakers trick for glueing difficult-to-clamp peices is to use hot-melt glue dots between beads of adhesive. Hold it in place for a minute, and then it'll stay put. I used almond phenoseal and it has proven to be plenty strong enough.
The other trick for glueing or caulking is to use masking tape where you don't want a mess. Tool the bead with your finger, peel off the tape, and you're good to go.

[416rigby]

Glad you like them. We sure use the heck out of them. The teak boards are simply screwed on from the outside. Yeah, I probably would have glued them, but it is simple and it works. They are one of the most useful additions to the boat. There was one across the front windows, too, but I moved the radar unit forward to keep from banging my head on it and we have to modify the design for them now. We may do the teak trim thing here, too.

Rick